围魏救赵
wéi​wèi​jiù​zhào

to relieve a besieged ally by attacking the besieger's home

  1. 围 圍 wéi verb
    to surround
    to surround; to encircle; to enclose
  2. 魏 wèi
    Wei
    (bound form) name of various historical Chinese states and dynasties, including a Zhou Dynasty vassal state, one of the Three Kingdoms, and several Northern Dynasties
  3. 救 jiù verb
    to save
    to save, rescue, or assist; to help someone out of danger or difficulty; to salvage
  4. 赵 趙 zhào
    Zhao state
    one of the seven major states during the Warring States period (475–221 BC), located in present-day Shanxi and Hebei provinces